Effect of the Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure Exergame on Running Completion Time and Psychological Factors Among University Students Engaging in Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Randomized Controlled Trial

Yi-Syuan Wu, Wei-Yun Wang, Ta-Chien Chan, Yu-Lung Chiu, Hung-Che Lin, Yu-Tien Chang, Hao-Yi Wu, Tzu-Chi Liu, Yu-Cheng Chuang, Jonan Wu, Wen-Yen Chang, Chien-An Sun, Meng-Chiung Lin, Vincent S Tseng, Je-Ming Hu, Yuan-Kuei Li, Po-Jen Hsiao, Chao-Wen Chen, Hao-Yun Kao, Chia-Cheng Lee, Chung-Bao Hsieh, Chih-Hung Wang, Chi-Ming Chu, Yi-Syuan Wu, Wei-Yun Wang, Ta-Chien Chan, Yu-Lung Chiu, Hung-Che Lin, Yu-Tien Chang, Hao-Yi Wu, Tzu-Chi Liu, Yu-Cheng Chuang, Jonan Wu, Wen-Yen Chang, Chien-An Sun, Meng-Chiung Lin, Vincent S Tseng, Je-Ming Hu, Yuan-Kuei Li, Po-Jen Hsiao, Chao-Wen Chen, Hao-Yun Kao, Chia-Cheng Lee, Chung-Bao Hsieh, Chih-Hung Wang, Chi-Ming Chu

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 outbreak has not only changed the lifestyles of people globally but has also resulted in other challenges, such as the requirement of self-isolation and distance learning. Moreover, people are unable to venture out to exercise, leading to reduced movement, and therefore, the demand for exercise at home has increased.

Objective: We intended to investigate the relationships between a Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure (RFA) intervention and improvements in running time, cardiac force index (CFI), sleep quality (Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score), and mood disorders (5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale score).

Methods: This was a randomized prospective study and included 80 students who were required to complete a 1600-meter outdoor run before and after the intervention, the completion times of which were recorded in seconds. They were also required to fill out a lifestyle questionnaire. During the study, 40 participants (16 males and 24 females, with an average age of 23.75 years) were assigned to the RFA group and were required to exercise for 30 minutes 3 times per week (in the adventure mode) over 4 weeks. The exercise intensity was set according to the instructions given by the virtual coach during the first game. The remaining 40 participants (30 males and 10 females, with an average age of 22.65 years) were assigned to the control group and maintained their regular habits during the study period.

Results: The study was completed by 80 participants aged 20 to 36 years (mean 23.20, SD 2.96 years). The results showed that the running time in the RFA group was significantly reduced. After 4 weeks of physical training, it took females in the RFA group 19.79 seconds (P=.03) and males 22.56 seconds (P=.03) less than the baseline to complete the 1600-meter run. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the performance of the control group in the run before and after the fourth week of intervention. In terms of mood disorders, the average score of the RFA group increased from 1.81 to 3.31 for males (difference=1.50, P=.04) and from 3.17 to 4.54 for females (difference=1.38, P=.06). In addition, no significant differences between the RFA and control groups were observed for the CFI peak acceleration (CFIPA)_walk, CFIPA_run, or sleep quality.

Conclusions: RFA could either maintain or improve an individual's physical fitness, thereby providing a good solution for people involved in distance learning or those who have not exercised for an extended period.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05227040; https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT05227040.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure; cardiac force index; digital health; exergaming; mood disorders; physical activity; physical fitness; running; sleep quality.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

©Yi-Syuan Wu, Wei-Yun Wang, Ta-Chien Chan, Yu-Lung Chiu, Hung-Che Lin, Yu-Tien Chang, Hao-Yi Wu, Tzu-Chi Liu, Yu-Cheng Chuang, Jonan Wu, Wen-Yen Chang, Chien-An Sun, Meng-Chiung Lin, Vincent S Tseng, Je-Ming Hu, Yuan-Kuei Li, Po-Jen Hsiao, Chao-Wen Chen, Hao-Yun Kao, Chia-Cheng Lee, Chung-Bao Hsieh, Chih-Hung Wang, Chi-Ming Chu. Originally published in JMIR Serious Games (https://games.jmir.org), 22.03.2022.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart showing enrollment of study participants. BSR-5: 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale; CPSQI: Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; RFA: Ring Fit Adventure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adventure mode screen of Nintendo Ring Fit Adventure.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Zephyr BioPatch wearable device.

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